play hardball

Idioms

Act aggressively and ruthlessly, as in It's only a month before the election, and I'm sure they'll start to play hardball. This term originated in baseball, where it alludes to using the standard ball as opposed to the slightly larger and minimally softer ball of softball. It was transferred to describe aggressive behavior only in the 1970s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I doubt he expected states like Virginia to play hardball.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

NBC News reported that in April 2017, 59% of Democrats supported compromising with Trump and Republicans on legislation, while 33% wanted them to play hardball.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2025

Carriers may have an incentive to play hardball with Apple, given their interest in offering their own satellite connectivity features and plans.

From The Verge • Aug. 29, 2022

The committee has interviewed nearly 1,000 people since beginning its probe last summer and has been known to play hardball with uncooperative witnesses.

From Washington Times • May 13, 2022

You want to play hardball, Brooklyn thought as she looked at her rival.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023